Advanced Protection for Motorized Scooters

At one time, the word “scooter” conjured up visions of
underpowered, noisy, smoky, ill-handling bicycle-like machines. Although low in
cost and offering excellent fuel economy, they were primarily seen only on
college campuses and in trendy tourist locales. Most featured single cylinder,
air-cooled 50 to 150cc engines capable of reaching speeds of up to 35-40 mph.
Today’s scooters offer greatly improved handling and exceptional performance,
while maintaining their affordability and excellent fuel efficiency. Their
popularity has skyrocketed in recent years, and the scooter market is one of the
fastest growing segments in the transportation industry. In fact, scooter sales
increased 20 percent last year, with similar growth projected for 2007. Today’s
scooters range in size from 50 to 600+ cc’s and utilize high-tech engine
designs and advanced system controls. Some models are capable of obtaining road
speeds in excess of 100 mph. Because these advancements place additional strain
on the equipment, today’s high-tech scooters demand high quality lubricants
specifically formulated to address the special needs found in scooter
applications:

Shear stability - High engine rpms common to scooter
applications increase shear, causing conventional lubricants to lose viscosity
and reduce their ability to control wear, resulting in shorter engine life.

Thermal
stability - The operating temperatures of scooter engines fluctuate
greatly, especially with air-cooled engines. Elevated temperatures cause the oil
to quickly break down and shorten its service life. High temperatures also cause
the oil to lose viscosity, minimizing its ability to control wear.

Transmission and gear box compatibility - In many
scooter applications, the engine and transmission and/or gear box share the same
oil reservoir, exposing the oil to mechanical shearing forces and permanent
viscosity loss as it passes through the contact areas within the gear sets.

Wet-clutch compatibility - Some scooters utilize a
frictional clutch to engage and disengage the engine from the drive train. In
many cases, this clutch is immersed in the same oil used in the engine and
transmission. Frictional compatibility must exist between the oil and the clutch
to prevent excessive slippage and extend clutch life. New AMSOIL 10W-40 Formula
4-Stroke® Synthetic Scooter Oil (ASO) is formulated specifically to meet the
special needs of today’s high-tech air and water-cooled four-stroke motorized
scooters, offering unsurpassed wear protection and friction reduction for longer
equipment life and cooler operating temperatures. Its exceptional shear
stability ensures consistent viscosity protection and provides additional
protection for transmissions and gear boxes, while its friction modifier-free
formulation ensures wet clutch compatibility and smooth clutch operation. A
special anti-corrosion additive package provides long-term protection during
periods of inactivity and storage. AMSOIL 10W-40 Formula 4-Stroke Synthetic
Scooter Oil is recommended for air- and water-cooled four-stroke motorized
scooter engines calling for a 10W-40 viscosity, as well as transmissions and
gear boxes calling for a 10W-40 motor oil, including Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki,
Yamaha, Vespa, Aprilia, Piaggio, Benelli, Vento, Kymco, Tank and TGB. It is
recommended for the longest drain interval recommended by the equipment
manufacturer.